To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Please cite this collection as:

Related material:

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the John Howard
Association photograph collection (1980.0291), as well as publications of the John
Howard Association, cataloged separately.

Minutes, reports, correspondence, financial records, topical files, speeches, press releases, and other records of the John Howard Association (JHA), a Chicago-based penal reform organization focused on jail and prison conditions within Illinois along with some studies concerning other U.S. prisons.
Early materials relate to Frank Emory Lyon, a minister who founded the organization and served as superintendent from 1901 to 1942. Topics of the collection include services to prisoners, ex-convicts, and their families; women prisoners; juvenile offenders; and reforms in penal legislation;
prison inspections; jail and prison conditions; and fundraising.

The John Howard Association (JHA), a Chicago-based penal reform organization, was founded in
1901 by Frank Emory Lyon, a minister who served as superintendent until his
retirement in 1942. Originally known as the Central Howard Association, it came to
be known as the John Howard Association in the mid-1940s. As of 2011, the
organization continues to provide services to prisoners, ex-convicts, and their
families, and to advocate for reforms in penal legislation and improved conditions
in Illinois jails and prisons.

Series 1 consists of meeting minutes, including minutes of the Board of Directors, and reports of superintendent Lyon (1901-1942). Also present are bound volumes of reports prepared by the JHA on prison conditions throughout the United States.

Series 2 contains audit reports, income tax materials, bank statements, receipt books, ledgers, and other financial records. Also present are monthly financial reports (1931-1948) submitted to the Community Fund of Chicago, a major financial supporter of the JHA.

Series 4 contains memos, press releases, pamphlets, articles, and newspaper clippings related to the activities of the JHA. Also present are the Constitution, Amendments, and By-Laws of the association.

Series 5 contains sermons and other speeches given by Lyon, a minister who served as superintendent of the association (1901-1942). Topics include prisoners' aid and welfare, unemployment in and out of prison, after-care of homeless prisoners, payment of prisoners, and needs of city and county jails.

Series 6 consists of correspondence, chiefly to and from Lyon. 1901 letters discuss the organization of a prisoner aid society. Some letters pertain to questionnaires conducted by Lyon, including a 1918 questionnaire about the contributions of prisoners and ex-prisoners to the war effort, a 1920 questionnaire about farm work by inmates, and a 1922 questionnaire about the numbers of inmates and paroles in various prisons. Also present is correspondence regarding Lyon's speaking engagements. Includes some letters pertaining to Community Fund of Chicago fund requests.

Biographical/historical note; The John Howard Association (JHA), a Chicago-based penal reform organization, was founded in 1901 by Frank Emory Lyon, a minister who served as superintendent until his retirement in 1942. Originally known as the Central Howard Association, it came to be known as the John Howard Association in the mid-1940s. As of 2011, the organization continues to provide services to prisoners, ex-convicts, and their families, and to advocate for reforms in penal legislation and improved conditions in Illinois jails and prisons.

Minutes, reports, correspondence, financial records, topical files, speeches, press releases, and other records of the John Howard Association (JHA), a Chicago-based penal reform organization focused on jail and prison conditions within Illinois along with some studies concerning other U.S. prisons. Early materials relate to Frank Emory Lyon, a minister who founded the organization and served as superintendent from 1901 to 1942. Topics of the collection include services to prisoners, ex-convicts, and their families; women prisoners; juvenile offenders; and reforms in penal legislation; prison inspections; jail and prison conditions; and fundraising.